Page 159 of The Substitute Fiancée

We meet Mara and Emelyne outside the entrance.

“Good luck, girls,” Mara says, pulling us into a hug.

“Everything’s going to be fine,” Alexander reassures me, kissing me softly. “Go. I’ll wait here.”

Inside, the school hallways are packed. All the graduating students are waiting to be called, tense, exchanging nervous looks.

Emelyne heads upstairs while I join my classmates. We offer each other faint smiles, all of us crossing our fingers.

Finally, the doors to our room open, and we’re called in one by one. My classmates go in, stay for a few minutes, then come back out. Some silently scream with joy, others flash a victory sign, and we celebrate for them.

One or two rush out, faces closed, disappearing without a word.

My nerves spike as the line shortens.

My heart pounds harder and harder.

“Samantha Chevalier.”

My name echoes down the hallway. I take a deep breath and step into the room.

Ms. Mainville sits at the center, flanked by Mr. Dubois and Ms. Ilse. Their faces are unreadable.

I walk forward, hands shaking.

“Good morning, Miss Chevalier,” Ms. Mainville says. “Please, have a seat.”

I sit in the chair facing them, my heart threatening to burst.

A silence settles. Endless.

Then Ms. Mainville opens the file in front of her and looks up at me.

“We greatly appreciated your creative approach,” she begins.

I hold my breath.

“Your body of paintings shows remarkable coherence. There is a maturity in your work that is rare in someone so young.”

My heart leaps. Does that mean…?

“You defended your ideas well,” Mr. Dubois adds. “That’s an admirable quality. Have more confidence in your work.”

He almost smiles.

“Your reflection on temporality is fully developed,” Ms. Ilse continues. “We were particularly impressed by your most recent pieces.”

Ms. Mainville closes the file and looks me straight in the eye.

“Congratulations, Miss Chevalier. You have earned your degree. With honors from the jury.”

The world stops.

Then it explodes.

“Really?” I whisper, barely able to breathe.

“Really,” Ms. Mainville confirms with a sincere smile. “Keep going. You have a bright future ahead of you.”